Treaty ratification

The common phrase "Senate ratification" compresses two actions. Constitutionally, the Senate gives advice and consent by a two-thirds vote of senators present; the president then completes ratification for the United States. Senators may attach reservations, understandings, or declarations to their consent.

The House does not vote on treaty consent, but treaty implementation may require an appropriation or statute. If domestic legal changes are necessary, both chambers participate through ordinary lawmaking and the president acts on the implementing bill.

Distinguish an Article II treaty from an executive agreement and from a statute. The label used by political actors does not by itself determine domestic legal effect. For a basic institutional question, identify negotiation by the executive, Senate consent, the two-thirds-present threshold, and any separate implementing legislation. Senate consent authorizes the president to proceed; it does not compel ratification if circumstances change. That final executive step is another reason the process should be described as shared rather than as a unilateral Senate power.

Video lesson: Congressional Decisions: Crash Course Government and Politics #10